Analyzing Water Quality and Flow Volume of Ellensburg Streams.

Presenter Information

Matthew Waymire

Document Type

Oral Presentation

Campus where you would like to present

SURC Ballroom C/D

Start Date

16-5-2013

End Date

16-5-2013

Abstract

Three branches of Wilson Creek flow through the City of Ellensburg: Mercer Creek, West Branch Wilson, and East Branch Wilson. These creeks carry natural stream flow, but they also carry irrigation return flow and they convey irrigation water deliveries to downstream withdrawal points. Using these streams to convey irrigation flow can alter flow volume and also contribute turbidity and bacteria to the stream, thus degrading water quality. I am collecting stream flow, turbidity, and bacteria data for the City of Ellensburg in six different locations of these three streams. The overarching purpose of my data collection is to see if there is a significant difference in flow volume, turbidity, and bacteria counts before and during the agricultural season. I started measuring turbidity, flow volume, and bacteria twice a week on March 14 and will continue until May 31. April 15 is the start date for irrigation so there will be seven measurements before and 14 after this date. Bacteria samples are taken to a city official where colonies are cultured on media for further inspection of fecal coliform bacterial counts. These data will allow me to track changes occurring in the streams during the growing season. Because Wilson Creek is listed as degraded by fecal coliform, these data will help support creek management activities by city officials. The data collection processes are ongoing, but preliminary results show that stream flow, turbidity, and bacteria counts are noticeably higher during the growing season.

Poster Number

16

Faculty Mentor(s)

Clay Arango

Additional Mentoring Department

Biological Sciences

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May 16th, 2:15 PM May 16th, 4:44 PM

Analyzing Water Quality and Flow Volume of Ellensburg Streams.

SURC Ballroom C/D

Three branches of Wilson Creek flow through the City of Ellensburg: Mercer Creek, West Branch Wilson, and East Branch Wilson. These creeks carry natural stream flow, but they also carry irrigation return flow and they convey irrigation water deliveries to downstream withdrawal points. Using these streams to convey irrigation flow can alter flow volume and also contribute turbidity and bacteria to the stream, thus degrading water quality. I am collecting stream flow, turbidity, and bacteria data for the City of Ellensburg in six different locations of these three streams. The overarching purpose of my data collection is to see if there is a significant difference in flow volume, turbidity, and bacteria counts before and during the agricultural season. I started measuring turbidity, flow volume, and bacteria twice a week on March 14 and will continue until May 31. April 15 is the start date for irrigation so there will be seven measurements before and 14 after this date. Bacteria samples are taken to a city official where colonies are cultured on media for further inspection of fecal coliform bacterial counts. These data will allow me to track changes occurring in the streams during the growing season. Because Wilson Creek is listed as degraded by fecal coliform, these data will help support creek management activities by city officials. The data collection processes are ongoing, but preliminary results show that stream flow, turbidity, and bacteria counts are noticeably higher during the growing season.